Abstract: A method and system for picking and placing vessels are provided. The system includes a gripper assembly mounted on a positioning mechanism. The gripper assembly includes a cylinder, a plurality of flexible gripping members extending from the cylinder in a spaced-apart relationship for receiving therebetween a vessel and holding it by friction, a piston slideably inserted inside the cylinder, and a plunger connected to and movable with the piston and extending between the gripping members for engaging the vessel. The method includes the steps of positioning the gripper assembly, picking up and transferring a vessel, and placing, seating and releasing the vessel. The contents of the vessel may also be mixed simultaneously during the transferring of the vessel.

Abstract: The invention provides a reagent supply system including a reagent rack for retaining a plurality of vials. The rack has a base and first and second walls extend upwardly from the base. The first wall includes an abutment extending toward the second wall and adapted to engage a first recess on one of the vials, while the second wall includes a flexible clip having a shoulder thereon, the shoulder being biased toward a position adapted to engage a second recess on the vial. The invention also provides a method of handling reagents which includes providing a variable reagent rack adapted to retain a plurality of vials and a common reagent pack containing a plurality of predetermined common reagents adapted to coact with reagents in the vials. A patient fluid is provided and a plurality of assays to be performed on that fluid are determined. Vials are then selected, each vial containing a different assay-specific reagent necessary for one of the assays, and the selected vials are loaded onto the rack.